Dead Heroes – Excerpt 2

I should have put these with the first excerpt; these are the epigraphs for the story

"Let us study thoughts as separate and distinct entities that have energy. Thought energy can affect, independent of physical manipulations, all manner of physical objects."
– Anonymous

"Through metaphysical philosophy, our continued study of reason and intuition will increase links with the common intellect. There are no boundaries between the human mind and the physical world."
– The first tenet of True Insight. ESR Colony, Earthside year, 2602.

And on with the story, here introducing a major protagonist in Chapter 1:

08/24/3321 in the outer sector

Nathan played a card and stole a look at the other six players. A few frowns, a sly grin, and the ever stoic expression of Sammi Wright, one of his roommates for the past sixteen days. Nathan was into this game and part of him didn't want it to end. When they stopped playing it would be because they had arrived at the Blalock space station. After that, just a few hours of elevator transit down to the main New Esrii space port. His off-planet work rotation would be over and he'd have little to do, waiting, as he was, to be accepted at a seminary. He concentrated on the cards, but his secondary thought wondered how to contact Sinoa. He'd met her during his work assignment on Krellanon. He liked her serious nature, and he was pleased when she had added his name to her friends list so he could make calls to her private com. Her work rotation ended four days before his. But soon after she had left, he found out her parent was Zaya Glen. The Scholar Elite Zaya Glen who was on the seminary board that had twice refused his entrance.

Don't call Sinoa. That's nothing but trouble. Another round of cards was slapped down. He felt a compulsion to contact Sinoa—not just because she was attractive and fun—something more. And she's privileged and the child of S.E. Zaya Glen.

A succession of cards hit the table. "Nooo!" came a groan from his roommate. Nathan played his and was greeted with hoots and "not again!"

"Another round," he said, scraping in his bounty of six dessert chits for the space port cafeteria. "We've got a few minutes."

"I'm out," someone said and pushed back from the table. Three others joined her.

"Playing with Nathan is like playing the computer," someone said with a chuckle. "I'm going to get my gear. Maybe that will hurry up this ol' bucket and we can get home."

"Just the two of us?" Nathan looked up expectantly and shuffled the cards. His gear was already packed in the bag under his chair.

"Naw. Think I'll check out the events calendar," Sammi said, pulling his compac from a shirt pocket. "We're getting back the day before school break. Should be something interesting going on."

Nathan shuffled the cards. He sighed; thought of Sinoa. Have to see her again, and soon. Such an insistent thought!

"Hey, here's something you'd be interested in, Nathan." Sammi said. He slid the pad across the table. "Sage Lanj Gamion will be speaking his city's park this evening. Broadcast on Tel Six."

"Sage Gamion?" Nathan stared with interest at the listing. Lanj Gamion was a leading philologist, and philology was one of Nathan's key interests. Gamion was old; some thought he was the oldest person on New Esrii, although Nathan knew better. "I'd like to hear him in person, not on the tel," Nathan said as he took out his own pad, pulled up the information and transferred it to his calendar.

He stared at the details as the ship's call announced the approach to the space station. Lanj Gamion speaking and—Nathan couldn't believe his eyes—Gamion lived in the same city as Sinoa.

"I'm going to get my gear," Sammi said, retrieving his pad and getting up. "See you in a few."

"Yeah," Nathan said, felling slightly dazed. He knew he was definitely going to that park this evening. But should he ask Sinoa to go with him? He fiddled with the cards as he thought. It was mid-morning. She'd be doing her student teaching, then she'd have her regular classes until mid-afternoon. He'd have to leave a message. He wondered if the access she had given him was correct or she had been humoring him. He could call after he got home—when she had finished with her classes. He shuffled the cards. Or maybe he should just go to the park and hope have an accidental meeting with her. He shook his head, bewildered by his inability to decide. Zaya Glen is her parent.

The ship's call announced two minutes to docking. He stood up and tamped the cards in a neat stack. To call? He pulled a card and tossed it on the table: a queen. Or not to call? He tossed out another: five.

"Time to strap in." Sammi was back. "The docking will be smooth as pudding, but we've got to get all belted and padded." He made a face and shook his head.

"Right," Nathan said. He took up his gear bag, returned the cards to the depository and followed Sammi to the passenger seats.

Feedback Welcome